Replanning Downtown Detroit – Part 5 of 8

CADILLAC SQUARE

Section “D” on the map:

Charles C. Highie

1 Elevated restaurant
2 New office building
3 Theater
4 Bridge over traffic including small shops and historical displays relating to Cadillac Square and Detroit
5 Elevated platform at intersection of streets
6 Existing Cadillac Tower
7 Existing old National Bank Building
8 Information center
9 Pool
10 Existing new National Bank Building
11 Underpass from island under Michigan, Woodward and Monroe
12 New commercial retail development

CADILLAC SQUARE

The Cadillac Square area, surrounded by the financial, commercial, and governmental functions of the city, will probably continue to function as at present. Now including approximately one million square feet of office space and 225,000 square feet of commercial facilities, it is proposed that this area be changed little in the immediate future. The characteristics of the area which required study were (1) the present confusion of automobile, bus, and pedestrian traffic, (2) the absence of structures needed to define the spaces, (3) additional retail commercial facilities, and (4) new restaurants and other service facilities.

The elements suggested in the study include the proposed removal of the present city hall and other obsolete buildings facing the square on the north and south; the placement of an elevated platform at the intersection of Woodward, Monroe, and Michigan Avenues providing a downtown focus for each of these arteries; an elevated arcade providing space for small shops and pedestrian access to the heart of the square by bridging bus and automobile traffic. A central platform upon which is located a restaurant completes the organization of the area.

East view